Scheduled alias resolution

Abstract

An access communication system provides access between a user system and a plurality of communication networks. The plurality of communication networks provide services to a user in the user system. An access communication system includes a database system and an access server that is connected to the user system and the plurality of communication networks. The access server receives information including a first alias. The access server then processes the information to determine whether an alias translation exists for the first alias in an alias schedule. The access server modifies the information based on the alias translation in response to the determination the alias translation exists.

I claim:  
     
       1. A method of operating an access system including an access server to provide access between a user system and a plurality of communication networks that provide services to a user, the method comprising: 
       receiving in the access server a user data packet from the user system with the user data packet identifying a first destination alias and the user;  
       translating the user data packet into a network data packet by replacing the first destination alias with a second destination alias from a user profile for the user wherein the second destination alias relates to a destination network address that relates to a selected one communication network of the plurality of communication networks; and  
       routing the network data packet to the selected one communication network based on the destination network address, wherein the translating enables communication of the user data packet to the selected one communication network without inclusion of the destination network address in the user data packet.  
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1  further comprising translating the user data packet according to an alias schedule. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 2  wherein the alias schedule selects an alias translation according to a current time. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 2  wherein the alias schedule is configurable. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1  further comprising: 
       generating and transmitting a translation request including the first destination alias to a database system; and  
       receiving a reply from the database system, with the reply including the second destination alias.  
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 5  further comprising storing the second destination alias in an alias schedule. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 5  wherein the generating and transmitting are performed in response to a destination that an alias translation does not exist in an alias schedule. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1  further comprising: 
       receiving in the access server another user data packet from another user system with the user data packet identifying the first destination alias and another user;  
       translating the other user data packet into another network data packet by replacing the first destination alias with a third destination alias from another user profile for the other user wherein the third destination alias relates to another destination network address that relates to a selected second communication network of the plurality of communication networks; and  
       routing the other network data packet to the selected second communication network based on the destination network address, wherein the translating enables communication of the other user data packet to the selected second communication network without inclusion of the other destination network address in the other user data packet.  
     
     
       9. A software product for providing access between a user system and a plurality of communication networks that provide services to a user, the software product comprising: 
       access server software operational when executed by a processor to direct the processor to receive a user data packet from the user system with the user data packet identifying a first destination alias and the user, translate the user data packet into a network data packet by replacing the first destination alias with a second destination alias from a user profile for the user wherein the second destination alias relates to a destination network address that relates to a selected one communication network of the plurality of communication network and route the network data packet to the selected one communication network based on the destination network address, wherein the translating enables communication of the user network packet to the selected one communication network without inclusion of the destination network address in the user data packet; and  
       a software storage medium operational to store the access server software.  
     
     
       10. The software product of  claim 9  wherein the access server software is operational when executed by the processor to direct the processor to translate the user data packet according to an alias schedule. 
     
     
       11. The software product of  claim 10  wherein the alias schedule selects an alias translation according to a current time. 
     
     
       12. The software product of  claim 10  wherein the alias schedule is configurable. 
     
     
       13. The software product of  claim 9  wherein the access server software is operational when executed by the processor to direct the processor to generate and transmit a translation request including the first destination alias to a database system and receive a reply from the database system, with the reply including the second destination alias. 
     
     
       14. The software product of  claim 13  wherein the access server software is operational when executed by the processor to direct the processor to store the second destination alias in an alias schedule. 
     
     
       15. The software product of  claim 13  wherein the access server software generates and transmits in response to a determination that an alias translation does not exist in an alias schedule. 
     
     
       16. An access system for providing access between a user system and a plurality of communication networks that provide services to a user, the access system comprising: 
       an access server connected to the user system and the plurality of communication networks and configured to receive a user data packet from the user system with the user data packet identifying a fist destination alias and the user, generate and transmit a translation request including the first destination alias to a database system, receive a reply from the database system including a second destination alias from a user profile for the user wherein the second destination alias relates to a destination network address that relates to a selected one communication network of the plurality of communication networks, translate the user data packet into a network data packet by replacing the first destination alias with the second destination alias, and route the network data packet to the selected one communication network based on the second destination alias that relates to the destination network address, wherein the translating enables communication of the user data packet to the selected one communication network without inclusion of the destination network address in the user data packet; and  
       the database system connected to the access server and configured to receive the translation request from the access server, process the translation request to generate the second destination alias, and generate and transmit a reply to the access server including the second destination alias.  
     
     
       17. The access system of  claim 16  wherein the access server is further configured to translate the user data packet according to an alias schedule. 
     
     
       18. The access system of  claim 17  wherein the alias schedule selects an alias translation according to a current time. 
     
     
       19. The access system of  claim 17  wherein the alias schedule is configurable. 
     
     
       20. The access system of  claim 16  wherein the access server is further configured to generate and transmit a translation request including the first destination alias to a database system and receive a reply from the database system, with the reply including the second destination alias. 
     
     
       21. The access system of  claim 20  wherein the access server is further configured to store the second destination alias in an alias schedule. 
     
     
       22. The access system of  claim 20  wherein the access system generates and transmits in response to a determination that an alias translation does not exist in an alias schedule.